**Chapter 4: Bloodlust③**
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**Chapter Two**
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**Chapter 4: Bloodlust③**
The sharp canine teeth tore through the skin, sinking into the flesh. Saliva welled up in my parched mouth, and the taste of blood spread across my tongue. The growing sense of urgency deep within my thoughts eased just a fraction.
My vision began to regain its shape. Senri, who was pulling my hand, seemed completely unaware of my struggle. I tightened my jaw carefully, ensuring Senri wouldn’t notice.
The canine teeth dug into my left arm, and my own blood slowly flowed into my mouth.
A dull pain registered, but compared to the Bloodlust, it felt almost soothing.
This was my second means of resisting the dryness: to bite myself.
The pain brought me back to my senses. Moreover, my own blood had a slight effect in alleviating the Bloodlust. I had realized this while marching through the forest, separated from Senri in search of food at night. It was when I was ambushed by a magical beast and sustained injuries that I discovered it.
The wound healed quickly, but when I licked my own blood, it provided a small measure of relief, even if it paled in comparison to Senri’s blood. The bestiary claimed that Vampires only drank blood from humans, but it seemed that even blood from a fellow Vampire could offer some benefit.
Of course, this was merely a temporary measure. The fact remained that I was nearing my limits, but in the current situation, it was more than welcome.
I cautiously lapped at the bitter blood, ensuring Senri wouldn’t notice. It was contradictory to think that I could survive with just my head intact, but perhaps even if my body ran dry of blood, I could still live. What I needed wasn’t blood in its purest form. Otherwise, I wouldn’t understand why I couldn’t substitute it with the blood of magical beasts.
With my composure regained, my thought process began to clear slightly.
What if I returned to search for Ruu’s corpse? I could drink blood from her remains. I felt a pang of guilt towards her, but once I buried her again, it wouldn’t be an issue. Ruu would surely forgive me.
My legs were still strong. If I sprinted away from Senri, I might make it in time. As for my chances… I wasn’t confident, but I didn’t think they were too low. My Bloodlust was likely so intense because I had the exquisite bait of Senri-Sylvis by my side. If I were alone, it might ease a bit.
Senri stopped near a gently flowing stream. Before she could turn around, I ceased biting my arm. The moment I stopped drinking, heat surged in my head, but I endured it. The blood would stop flowing quickly, so there was little chance she would notice the wound.
In our survival roles, Senri, skilled in survival techniques, would start a fire while I, with only a robust physique, would search for food. If I distanced myself from Senri, I could bite my arm again. Drinking my fill of water might also help suppress the impulse.
I had to be careful not to walk on the water, though.
As I stood up, Senri weakly tugged at my hand.
“End…”
“It’s still fine. The night will break soon, and we need to gather food—then we can dig a hole.”
Now was the time to remain calm. Without looking directly at her face, I shook off her hand and hurriedly distanced myself from Senri, eager to drink blood as soon as possible.
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My breathing was ragged. There was a pressure on my heart, as if it were being gripped tightly.
Senri’s sweet blood was exquisite, a pleasure that couldn’t be replaced by anything else, but the bitter blood wasn’t bad either.
I sat on the ground, twisting my body to sink my canine teeth into my right arm. The fangs of a Vampire are specialized for bloodsucking. I focused on swallowing the bitter, cold liquid that flowed into me. When I had bitten into Senri’s neck, there had been pleasure. Now, there was none. Vampire bloodsucking was supposed to be painless, yet now there was a dull ache.
But such thoughts were irrelevant. What I needed now was to suppress the impulse.
The blood flow from my right arm was better than from the left, but sadly, the amount was not much. My already pale skin appeared almost ghostly, as if there was hardly any blood left in me. It wasn’t my first time biting myself, so I couldn’t expect much. The blood I drank wouldn’t flow directly into my body.
A phantom of the Lord hovered in the air, looking down at me with an expressionless face, like a grim reaper. But I completely ignored it and pressed my tongue into the wound.
The cold sensation of flesh. The grotesque act of consuming myself brought me back, if only slightly, from the beast within. How ironic. Such thoughts flitted through my mind, but they no longer mattered.
I needed to survive for even a second longer. I had to devise a strategy before I became a complete monster.
For instance… yes, there should be monkey magical beasts in this forest. What if I drank their blood? If they were close enough to humans, there might be a chance to quench this thirst…
“……End.”
“!?”
Suddenly, Senri’s voice reached me from nearby. I quickly turned my gaze in her direction.
Just a few meters in front of me, her violet eyes were fixed on me. I hadn’t noticed how close she had come. I opened my mouth to speak, only to realize my fangs were still embedded in my right arm.
My meal had been interrupted. An inexplicable irritation bubbled within me. Yet, I still had just enough presence of mind to recognize that this thought was that of a monster.
I had been seen. Biting my own arm was not something a human would do. In that fleeting moment, my thoughts raced.
It’s fine. It must be fine. I hadn’t harmed Senri yet.
I extended my unbitten left hand to stop her as she approached.
“Ah, it’s fine. I’m not crazy; my own blood can ease the thirst a little.”
“…………”
Ah, that’s right. I had completely forgotten. I remembered why Senri was here. I had been searching for food. How long had I been sitting here, lost in the act of drinking my own blood?
I had worried her… My vision swirled. The sweet scent drew closer. Just that alone made my blood feel sweet. Senri spoke softly, her violet eyes reflecting a dying monster.
“End… don’t push yourself.”
“I’m not pushing myself. It’s still fine. Ah, yes. Senri, I’ve thought of something good.”
I lifted my face and looked at my arm. Countless fang marks remained. Until now, I should have healed from such minor wounds quickly, yet even after staring at them for several seconds, there was no sign of healing. Perhaps I no longer had that power left… but I wouldn’t die from such a wound.
I took a deep breath to steady my trembling body. My mouth felt heavy, as if it weren’t my own, and I struggled to form words.
“I’m thinking of going back to Ruu’s place and digging up her grave. It hasn’t been long since she passed, and it wouldn’t trouble anyone. Ruu would surely forgive me for drinking her blood.”
“End…………”
Ah, that’s right. There were many corpses stored in the Lord’s underground. I could have drunk from them. I had completely forgotten. The mansion hadn’t collapsed, but would it still be fresh?
Considering the pursuers from the End Knight, I couldn’t stay there forever, but in a way, that place might have been a sanctuary for me.
Senri still wore a tearful expression. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
“A Vampire… draws life through blood. That’s why… you can’t drink blood from the dead, and even if you transfuse it, it’s meaningless.”
“Eh… I didn’t know that…”
That was unexpected. I was at a loss. I had run out of ways to turn the situation around.
Such important information should have been shared earlier. Useless remnants of remnants. Only Twice had emerged, but they never provided useful knowledge—and since they were a phantom, they couldn’t be drained of blood.
“I… have the knowledge of a Vampire. The End Knight is searching for the Vampire’s weakness. I know more about you than you know about yourself.”
That was certainly true. My knowledge came from the beginner’s guide that the Lord had possessed. I hadn’t delved deeply into the section about Vampires.
I felt cold. My body felt as if it were that of a corpse. I didn’t know what to do.
I sank my fangs deep into my arm and looked at Senri.
“Are you… planning to destroy me?”
“…………”
Senri said nothing. But she must have realized that I was nearing my limits. I could no longer pretend otherwise. I didn’t know what would happen to me from here on out, but Senri likely knew.
No, perhaps I could endure a little longer, but eventually, the time would come when I could no longer hold on.
“I just want to live. I want to continue the life I had in my previous life, bedridden— I hold no grudge against humans. I’m not a bad Vampire. I just occasionally have an overwhelming urge to drink blood… As I mentioned before, I’ve never attacked a human, except for when you gave me your blood back when I was just a head.”
But it couldn’t be helped. The End Knight was originally an enemy of the Lord. I held no intention of resenting them. Yet, I had to struggle. Even if the opponent was someone who once saved my life, if they sought to take mine, I had to resist.
I had to survive for even a second longer.
It was a countdown. To defeat Senri, I had no choice but to count down.
“I promise, I won’t leave the forest. I don’t need salvation through death.”
No, that’s not right. There’s no way I can win against that Counter. She can kill me with just a touch. My head is spinning, thoughts tangled and chaotic. What would happen if I killed her, anyway?
Desperately, I try to speak.
“Maybe a miracle will happen, and things will turn out alright… Look, it’s already happened twice… If only she could overlook me, that is…”
That’s it. Perhaps confirming the remnants of the remnants of the remnants of Knowledge could be beneficial. I have no intention of giving up my body, but surely even the Lord would want to avoid my complete annihilation. Our interests align.
I can still run. However, escaping from the light of Senri that blew away that colossal dragon is impossible.
Epe was perceptive. The returned silver sword kept Senri bound as the End Knight. But considering what would happen if I were discovered after this, there was no option but to return the sword. I couldn’t even think of fleeing midway; I had no idea how far Senri could detect the location of the AnAdo.
From the very beginning, there was no path for me. Dawn should be breaking soon. Even if I were to be overlooked now, I might not have time to dig a hole.
I can’t think of a strategy to turn the situation around.
I’m exhausted. Even thinking feels like a chore. I smile, half in despair. At that moment, a cold object brushed against my cheek.
Senri’s hand was on my cheek. It wasn’t that her movements were particularly fast; my senses were likely distorted. My vision and consciousness were hazy. I couldn’t even smell anything. Only the heat of instinct, overpowering reason, threatened to consume me.
Yet, even so, if I were to turn into a demon, her blessing would easily bring me to Zero. Before my resolved gaze, Senri’s lips parted slightly.
“End… I want you to rely on me more. Trust me…”
The words that emerged were unexpected. In an instant, my thoughts went blank. Her right hand, resting on my cheek, slipped her thumb into my mouth, stroking my long, pointed fang.
“You’ve done enough. I’m sorry, I knew all along. For a long time… that I was drinking my own blood… I couldn’t… call out to you.”
The pad of her finger grazed my fang, drawing blood, the warm liquid flooding my mouth. I couldn’t taste it; only a strong shock rattled my brain. Her slightly injured finger caressed my tongue. Did it hurt? Her brow twitched slightly.
But without touching on that, Senri continued.
Just like when we spoke in front of Ruu’s grave, her cold voice carried a hint of compassion. Yet now, she knows better than before how terrifying I am; I am no mere vampire who can’t even kill a single bug. I took advantage of her weakness and survived against Epe. On top of that, I’ve hunted magical beasts countless times. If I can hunt magical beasts, there’s no way I can’t hunt humans.
Considering all that, she still says she will be on my side.
“In the face of death, one’s true nature is revealed. I’ve received your words. I will cooperate. I won’t… kill you. Can you tell me about yourself…? We should talk more. If we do, surely, things will go well.”
“…Senri’s, hohoho… teach me, hehe?”
As I asked in a dazed voice while licking the blood flowing from my finger, Senri’s eyes widened, and a somewhat ephemeral smile graced her lips.
“Yes. I will teach you.”